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Northern Star

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The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

Lee County Resident and owner of Sweet Earth, Roseann Para hands and DeKalb county resident Sue Lederer hand out candy to 9 year old Justice Dueringer, a resident of Sycamore.

Pumpkin Fest builds excitement

By Cris Rojo | October 26, 2017

Lee County Resident and owner of Sweet Earth, Roseann Para hands and DeKalb county resident Sue Lederer hand out candy to 9 year old Justice Dueringer, a resident of Sycamore.

The Darth Vader carved pumpkin display won the President’s Award, the highest ranking award at the 54th Annual Pumpkin Festival on Thursday.

Pumpkin Fest unifies Sycamore community

By Jessica Plessner | October 26, 2015

The Darth Vader carved pumpkin display won the President’s Award, the highest ranking award at the 54th Annual Pumpkin Festival on Thursday.

Wally Thurow, known as Mr. Pumpkin, poses in the mid-1990s during the Sycamore Pumpkin Festival. A statue of Thurow, who helped found the festival, will be unveiled today to help start this year’s Pumpkin Festival.

‘Mr. Pumpkin’ memorial to be unveiled

By Mitchell Spence | October 22, 2014

A statue created to honor one of the founders of the Pumpkin Festival, Wally “Mr. Pumpkin” Thurow, will be unveiled today to help kick off the festival.Pumpkin Festival Committee President Jerry Malmassari said Thurow never stopped thinking of ideas...

Pumpkin Fest combines Halloween, science lab

By Arthur Aumann | October 21, 2014

Science is reinventing Halloween at the 53rd annual Pumpkin Festival, which kicks off Oct. 22.The five-day festival, themed Pumpkin Inventions, takes place throughout downtown Sycamore and includes food stands, pumpkin displays and a Saturday performance...

Music programs, classes open to community

By Keisha Howerth | January 21, 2014

Locals can sharpen their music skills and participate in concerts through programs offered at NIU.The courses are available through the Community School of the Arts, and children can also join the school’s choir.LessonsMusic lessons using the Suzuki...

Parade marks 52 years of Pumpkin Fest

By Deanna Frances | October 28, 2013

The Pumpkin Festival parade returned for its 52nd annual year as the heart of the festival Sunday in Sycamore.The two-hour parade included local fire engines and ambulances, marching bands and community floats. Crowds of people arrived as early as 8 a.m....

Zombie golf aids library

By Hany Abdel | October 27, 2013

The Sycamore Library was the place to shoot mini golf while avoiding the undead as they wandered rooms of the library Saturday.Families played mini golf for a cause on Saturday, raising funds for library furniture and equipment while having fun in the...

Historic home tour shows strength in community

By Hany Abdel | October 27, 2013

The Sycamore History Museum had locals bustling Saturday for the Historic Homes Tour during the 52nd annual Pumpkin Fest.The annual tour’s theme for this year was the Movers and Shakers of Sycamore, and it featured six of Sycamore’s oldest homes,...

Pumpkins roll into Sycamore

By Lark Lewis | October 24, 2013

Pumpkin Fest started off with a creative bang Wednesday with the Sycamore Lions Club 52nd Annual Pumpkin Display on the Sycamore Courthouse lawn.Fest Vice President Bart Desch said the pumpkin display brought crowds of close to 800 people Wednesday. There...

Local man memorialized in new book

By Northern Star Staff | October 11, 2012

Mr. Pumpkin & the Sycamore Pumpkin Festival: A 50 Year History hit the shelves on Monday. The biography, written by Tom Oestreicher, focuses on the life of Wally Thurow who was known as “Mr. Pumpkin.” The book focuses on the history of the Sycamore...

Pumpkin Fest takes over Sycamore

October 26, 2011

The city of Sycamore is about to grow by the thousands.The Sycamore Pumpkin Festival kicked off Wednesday and continues through Sunday.This year's theme is "50 Fabulous Years of Pumpkins," said Sycamore Mayor Ken Mundy. During the five days of the festival,...